Authorities unveil final waste disposal plan for “Seikongen” wellboat

The saga that is the “Seikongen” seems to be closer to some kind of closure as authorities finally approve a plan to move the wellboat’s rotten cargo.

The Regional Ministry of Chile (SEREMIS) responsible for health and the environment as well as the National Fisheries Service, the Superintendency of Environment and Maritime Authority have authorised a five stage plan according to the site elrepuertero.

Since the successful rising of the wellboat, the vessel has been in limbo, at the centre of a maritime tug-of-war. It’s has been barred from several ports, including the port of Talcahuano, and has prompted after major protests from the local community worried about the impact of an environmental “atomic bomb” near to their shores.

Now it seems that a collective solution – albeit an illustrated one – is on the horizon.

The process will begin in Puerto Montt where the 100 tonnes cargo of rotten salmon will be moved by specialist vessels. It will then go to the Port of San José de Calbuco where the salmon farmer, Fiordo Austral will process it. The waste will be then transferred to transport trucks that will go to the Los Glaciares de Panitao plant in Puerto Montt. Then, finally the “sludge” that remains will be taken to a ditch at the industrial waste company “Ecoprial” located in Osorno, south-central Chile.

The masterplan – drawn below – is expected to take between 4 to 5 days.